# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussions

• The community actively discussed open-source manufacturing technologies, including Marcin Jakubowski's Open Source Ecology project for industrial machines and the SKDB (Skill Database) project for organizing manufacturing knowledge, though they noted a "chicken-and-egg problem" where "nobody contributes data because you can't do anything with it yet."

• Technical projects mentioned included DIYbio initiatives like webcam microscope hacks, a RepRap 3D printer build, a maskless DNA synthesizer project, and Fab at Home (FaH) for fabrication, demonstrating the channel's focus on practical transhumanist technologies.

• Participants explored novel user interface concepts, including webcam-based head tracking for creating immersive 3D viewports (inspired by Johnny Lee's Wiimote work) and Pranav Mistry's "SixthSense" wearable gestural interface technology shared via TED talk.

• Low-cost space exploration options were debated, including $8,000 satellites and high-altitude balloons, with discussions about the practical utility of "edge of space" experiments versus achieving orbital velocity.

• The community showed interest in mesh WiFi networks, with references to MIT's city-wide implementation where people donate bandwidth, suggesting interest in distributed communication infrastructure.

• Bioinformatics was highlighted as a significant field with numerous journals and resources, indicating the channel's engagement with biological enhancement technologies alongside computational and manufacturing approaches.

• Discussions about computational tools included using Python with SymPy for equation solving and troubleshooting installation issues with SKDB dependencies like PythonOCC and OpenCascade on Ubuntu 9.10, reflecting the technical sophistication of the community.